In the beginning there was ’00′ gauge. And then a man said, let there be more width, challenge upon yourself and join the mighty in ‘EM’ and an idea was born.
A desire for a new challenge and to raise my level of modelling lead to an idea for a small end to end layout of a Scottish Colliery set in the early 1970’s. The Rochdale Model Railway Group encouraged and supported the decision and in 2004/05, baseboards were built and track laying carried out. A hiatus, modelling famine, exile to the wilderness as it where, delayed the project from mid 2006 until 2012 (a combination of courting and then marrying my wife and following work around the country). Resurrection came at the patient hands of my Dad who volunteered to complete the wiring and get the layout running – a joint venture!
Welcome to Kirkmellington, a record of the trials and tribulations of our first foray into hand built point work, EM gauge standards and fine scale modelling. The blog will give some background to the planned layout, the research and vision and the techniques used including new skills that are learnt along the way. There will be regular updates on the layout construction, the rolling stock and scenery and of exhibition appearances as they occur.
Forthcoming exhibitions for Kirkmellington:
Cracking layout, I hope to see it in the flesh at some point
Looks interesting! Though I now live in Newhey I was born and brought up in Dalmellington. My dad, 3 uncles and both grandfathers worked for the NCB in the Ayrshire Area and I probably would have done too if all the mines hadn’t been closed! One of my uncles worked on the “pugs” and I have many happy teenage memories of summer days on the footplate having a go at driving, unofficially of course! Some of the engines are still at Waterside as part of the Ayrshire Railway Preservation Group and while I’m pleased that they’ve been saved I prefer to remember them back in the 70’s when they were hard at work shifting loads of coal. Hopefully I’ll get to see Kirkmellington at one of the exhibitions as I am a big fan of Scottish railways.